New restaurants on the way to White Center

May 22nd, 2018 Tracy Posted in Restaurants, White Center news 1 Comment »

Two White Center spaces have new eateries on the way, according to liquor-license filings.

Da Lat Quan is moving into the empty restaurant page on the northeast internal corner of White Center Square (9988 15th SW).

Anju is the name of the business that’s seeking a license for the taqueria space at 9641 15th SW.

No other details yet, but just in case you’ve been wondering who’ll be moving into those spaces!

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Dine at Noble Barton today/tonight to help Lifelong

April 26th, 2018 Tracy Posted in How to Help, Restaurants, White Center news Comments Off on Dine at Noble Barton today/tonight to help Lifelong

Today is the annual Dining Out for Life benefit for Lifelong, and there’s one participating White Center venue, according to the online lookup – Noble Barton is donating a percentage of proceeds from all meals today/tonight.

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WHITE CENTER RESTAURANTS: Opening day for Brass Knuckle Bistro

March 6th, 2018 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news 1 Comment »

It’s opening day at Brass Knuckle Bistro, as we first noted last month, six months after introducing you to the West Seattle family behind the new eatery.

Check out the art:

Sandwiches are the BKB specialty, along with salads and sides. See the menu here. We spotted today’s samples:

Brass Knuckle Bistro is open 11 am-8 pm Tuesdays-Sundays, closed Mondays.

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WHITE CENTER FOOD: Brass Knuckle Bistro sets opening date

February 23rd, 2018 Tracy Posted in Businesses, Food, Restaurants, White Center news Comments Off on WHITE CENTER FOOD: Brass Knuckle Bistro sets opening date

It’s been almost six months since our first reports that Brass Knuckle Bistro was on the way to the former 3.14 Bakery space at 9602 16th SW. Now they’ve announced that March 6th will be the opening date, with a “friends and family” event this weekend for other local businesses. BKB will focus on sandwiches – you can preview the menu online. (Thanks to Gill for the tip!)

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FIRST DRUNKY’S, NOW DOTTIE’S: Downtown White Center about to get Dottie’s Doublewide, courtesy of BBQ joint’s co-proprietor

January 10th, 2018 Tracy Posted in Beverages, Businesses, Food, Restaurants, White Center news 6 Comments »

By Linda Ball
Reporting for White Center Now

If the ’70s vibe is your thing, then you are in for a treat when Dottie’s Doublewide opens in White Center.

Nate Rezac, the pit boss and co-owner of Drunky’s Two Shoes, has partnered up with his old bartending friend B.J. Kaiser, to create a new concept where Zanzibar briefly lived at 9609½ 16th SW. We mentioned Dottie’s briefly two weeks ago, and finally got the chance to talk with them this week.)

Imagine walking into a retro, sort of midcentury-modern-looking doublewide trailer with ’70s art and vintage neon signs decorating the interior. That’s Rezac and Kaiser’s vision. Rezac has an old vintage travel trailer that they plan to cut up. The side with the door will become the façade; so to enter the restaurant you’ll be opening the travel trailer door. The other side of the trailer will be used in the back between the restaurant and the kitchen, so the food will look like it’s coming from a food truck. The back of the trailer, where the taillights are, will be used for beer taps.

To add to the fun, they plan to have a CD jukebox as well as a turntable with real vinyl records to choose from – or bring yours, and they will spin them for you! They plan to have house DJs from time to time, mostly on the weekends.

Rezac has been in the restaurant industry since he was 15-years-old, and creates most of the recipes at his restaurants. With family in Mexico, he knows a thing or two about tacos, and Dottie’s Doublewide will feature more than 20 varieties of tacos. Of course there will be traditional Mexican tacos, but also some with smoked meats from Drunky’s, vegetarian options such as portabella-mushroom tacos, avocado tacos, and egg tacos. As Rezac put it, a really “wide net” of tacos. Additionally, the menu will feature Tex-Mex cuisine, marinated carne asada, and al-pastor (boneless pork shoulder with pineapple).

Happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. will be offered seven days a week with two-for-one margaritas. Rezac and Kaiser will have a full bar with an extensive tequila collection, in addition to beer and house wine, plus a selection of better wines. The retro-style bar will seat 20 patrons, with two 65-inch flat-screen TVs behind it. A projection screen will be positioned opposite the bar on a large wall. They plan to show sports or fun video loops – perhaps vintage themed.

Rezac will have a staff of five at Dottie’s Doublewide. He and Kaiser will be in the house as well. Monday through Friday hours will be 3 p.m. to close, with lunch on the weekends and hours of 11 a.m. until closing. Dottie’s will have a capacity of 80 customers.

Kaiser, who is also a general contractor, has built out several restaurants, and Dottie’s is moving along fast since they weren’t changing uses of the building, thereby avoiding many permitting and county headaches. That said, they expect to be open as soon as February 1.

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ANOTHER OPENING: New White Center McDonald’s

January 6th, 2018 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news Comments Off on ANOTHER OPENING: New White Center McDonald’s

It’s a big weekend for openings around White Center, and here’s another one. Four months ago, as the old McDonald’s at 16th/114th was being demolished, we reported that a company spokesperson told us the rebuilt restaurant would provide “a cutting edge and elevated experience.” Now the golden-arches sign outside declares it’s open, and even without an official tour, some components are visible from outside. The drive-thru has two lanes for ordering. Looking inside, you’ll see two touchscreen kiosks for ordering.

They’re not replacing human help, though – employees were still visible behind the counter, and the company made a chain-wide statement earlier this year about the issue.

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Opening day for Patrick’s Café and Bakery in White Center

January 5th, 2018 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news 6 Comments »

Meet Patrick Choy, the namesake and proprietor of Patrick’s Café and Bakery at 10003 15th SW, where it’s “soft opening” day. You’ll find not just baked treats…

… but also savory hot food including pot pies centered on fillings such as chicken or Portuguese sausage, plus beef stew and chili.

Some of Patrick’s creations (here’s the menu) are inspired by the flavors of Hawai’i, where he was born into a family that, as explained on the new café’s website, “owned and operated Sam Choy’s Kaloko … a James Beard Foundation: America’s Classics Award-winning restaurant.” He’s been baking since childhood and built a distinguished career including corporate food-and-beverage leadership, then a neighborhood bakery elsewhere in Seattle, and now he has moved to a larger space in White Center. Hours are 8 am-5 pm six days a week (closed Tuesdays) but keep in mind it’s soft-open mode for starters.

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WHITE CENTER McDONALD’S: Teardown to be followed by ‘cutting-edge’ rebuild

September 12th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Restaurants, White Center news 12 Comments »

Thanks to the readers who tipped us that the White Center/North Burien McDonald’s is being torn down. Their tips came with the question: What will replace the 38-year-old building? Answer: A new McDonald’s. This was just confirmed by Derek Morrison, a regional media contact for the fast-food giant, who replied to our inquiry:

To clarify, this restaurant is NOT closing, it is undergoing a complete rebuild. This rebuild is going to reflect the McDonald’s of the future, with a cutting edge and elevated experience in both the drive-through and inside the restaurant.

Also, after going by the site earlier today and seeing the banner identifying the contractor as Ziva Enterprises, we found “before” photos on that company’s Facebook page along with a comment that they’re hoping to be done by Christmas.

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FOLLOWUP: What’s planned for the Brass Knuckle Bistro at ex-3.14 space

August 30th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news 2 Comments »

(UPDATED THURSDAY NIGHT with garage-sale dates/times, Saturday and Sunday 10-4)

ORIGINAL EDITOR’S NOTE: We promised more on the Brass Knuckle Bistro when we first mentioned it a week and a half ago. And now – the rest of the story!

By Linda Ball
Reporting for White Center Now & West Seattle Blog

Case Justham says he doesn’t sleep very well, so he stays up and reads cookbooks all night. His mom Linda Justham says her son looks at the science of food, down to the molecular properties of a dish. Case is quick to point out that he’s not a scientist, but he likes to try non-traditional cooking methods.

Case (photo at right), a self-taught chef, is presently the sous chef and butcher at The Swinery in West Seattle. With mom Linda, sister Piper Carscadden, brother Drew Justham, and wife Amy Justham, they are partnering to open the family’s first restaurant, Brass Knuckle Bistro in White Center. Case will be the chef, Carscadden will work the front end and social media and Linda will do the books, eventually turning them over to Carscadden. The others will be mostly silent partners, although Drew has extensive front-end experience and will probably be present in the first few weeks.

The entire family lives in West Seattle but they chose what was until three months ago the location of 3.14 Bakery at 9602 16th SW for the bistro (and are having a “garage sale” there later this weekend – more on that below).

It’s close to home for Case, who resides in the Westwood neighborhood and worked in White Center in the early 2000s; Linda said it’s a place where they were able to find affordable rent. They came close to opening a restaurant on Bainbridge Island, where they all lived at one time, but decided against it when they all moved into Seattle. Case worked at Bene Pizza on Bainbridge before coming to The Swinery, where he’s been for three and one-half years. He appreciates the freedom he was given to be creative at The Swinery. “I wear a lot of hats there,” Case said.

So, where did the name Brass Knuckle Bistro come from? “White Center still has a tough-guy characteristic,” Case said. “It evolved from knuckle sandwich to brass knuckle to Brass Knuckle Bistro.”

It will be a casual restaurant, geared toward lunch and early dinner. He found it frustrating on Bainbridge to find a good Mexican or Thai restaurant so he wants to do things differently, for example, putting his own spin on Caribbean pulled pork. He said his Philly is an “anchor sandwich” which he’s perfected at The Swinery, but the Philly he has planned for White Center will “knock people’s socks off.”

Brass Knuckle Bistro will also offer salads and vegetarian and vegan sandwiches. Instead of gluten-free sandwiches, he’s planning dishes that would be presented like sandwich fillings atop, for example, ribs, cole slaw, or gourmet fries. He said the reason is that he hasn’t found gluten-free bread that he finds suitable. Case said he plans a small fixed menu and a large rotating cast of specials, which he said are where he shines. “I like the idea of a secret menu.”

Keeping the price points affordable is very important to the partners – they want everyone to be able to afford to eat there. They have applied for a beer and wine permit, and have a great deal of build-out to do, so opening isn’t anticipated until sometime in November. Expecting a rush in the beginning days, Case plans to call on some of his industry pals to jump in; then, he will gauge what sort of permanent help he will need.

This coming weekend – (updated) Saturday and Sunday, September 2-3 – the Justhams will be having a farewell-to-3.14 sale, like a garage sale, to get rid of fixtures and items they don’t need – espresso machines, a pastry cabinet, and so forth – from 10 a.m. -4 p.m. each day, so stop by if any of that appeals to you. They want the space empty by early next week, so the remodel can begin in earnest.

The Justhams do have a website started up, though not complete, at brassknucklebistro.com. Tentative hours when they open will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, closed Mondays.

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WHITE CENTER FOOD: Brass Knuckle Bistro on the way to ex-3.14 Bakery space

August 20th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news Comments Off on WHITE CENTER FOOD: Brass Knuckle Bistro on the way to ex-3.14 Bakery space

Spotted while passing through downtown White Center tonight: Papered windows and a liquor-license application at the former 3.14 Bakery space (9602 16th Avenue SW), which has been closed almost three months. According to the State Liquor and Cannabis Board‘s online files, the application is for Brass Knuckle Bistro. We’re working to find out more.

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White Center restaurants: Opening night for CTO

August 2nd, 2017 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news 9 Comments »

As of less than an hour ago, the new Chinese takeout restaurant adjacent to Beer Star and Li’l Woody’s has opened. It’s called CTO – get it? – here is how they explain what they are doing:

We stopped by around mid-afternoon to confirm that they indeed were opening tonight, and they confirmed it. The tables were ready (dine in OR take out):

According to the CTO website, they’ll be open Sunday – Thursday 4 pm – 9 pm, Friday – Saturday 4 pm – 10 pm for starters (9809 16th SW).

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FOLLOWUP: Li’l Woody’s will open Wednesday

July 17th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news 3 Comments »

12:42 PM: It’s official … the next White Center restaurant opening is this Wednesday (July 19th), just in time for Jubilee Days. Li’l Woody’s announced the opening date today for its 9807 16th Ave SW location, same building as Beer Star (and the future CTO). The local mini-chain also has locations in Capitol Hill, Ballard, and South Lake Union.

ADDED 1:12 PM: More info from the official Li’l Woody’s news release:

… Li’l Woody’s White Center will be open Sunday-Thursday, 11 am-9 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 11 am-11 pm. The telephone number is 206-403-1294.

Li’l Woody’s will be one of two restaurants sharing the building with Beer Star, the expansive, 40-tap beer hall. Li’l Woody’s 1,400 sq. ft space will be cooking-up their beloved grass-fed burgers, shakes using local ice cream from Full Tilt, and hand-cut fries using potatoes grown in Pasco, Washington from Harvest Fresh Produce. …

The White Center space was once home to the Epicure restaurant, a major gathering spot in the 1950s – known to be where “the elite meet to eat.” The “EP,” as it was called, was owned and operated by Joe Boothby, who cooked roast beef on a spit near the front window. The meat became a favorite offering of the restaurant, along with the annual pancake breakfast fundraisers held downstairs. Li’l Woody’s pays homage to the building’s history with the Epicure sandwich: Slow-braised top round, provolone, caramelized onions, and peppercorn horseradish aioli. An extra kick can be added with the addition of Mama Lil’s peppers for $1.

The Epicure joins the club of a special burger found at each Li’l Woody’s location- Capitol Hill has the Chicken Burger, Ballard has the Salmon Burger and South Lake Union has the Turkey Burger.

“We can’t wait to be a part of the White Center community,” says Li’l Woody’s owner Marcus Lalario. “I’m glad that we can celebrate the history of the building and have a part in this new neighborhood development.“

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WHITE CENTER FAST FOOD: Popeyes is open; Li’l Woody’s is getting closer

July 12th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news Comments Off on WHITE CENTER FAST FOOD: Popeyes is open; Li’l Woody’s is getting closer

Within minutes of the official 10 am opening, the new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in White Center (15th/16th/100th) was busy. We dropped by for a couple quick photos, including the festive decor:

We also checked on the hours: They’re posted as opening at 10 am 7 days a week; the lobby closes at 9, drive-thru at 10.

Meantime, not far away, the new Li’l Woody’s burger shop just south of Beer Star is taking shape:

They’re hoping to be ready to open next week.

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FOLLOWUP: White Center Popeyes opens Wednesday

July 10th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news 1 Comment »

We have been asked many times in the past few weeks, when is the White Center Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen opening? Today, we have the answer – Wednesday (July 12th). Thanks to Gill for the tip; after hearing from him, we went by a short time ago and a sign in the window confirms it – “Opening Wednesday, 10 am.” (Still hiring, too.) It’s been 13 months since we broke the news that Popeyes and Starbucks were coming to what was then the site of White Center Chevron. Everything previously on the site was subsequently demolished, and the two chains’ new stores have been built by scratch. As reported here last month, Starbucks says it expects to open next month. Both businesses are drive-thrus.

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FOLLOWUP: Popeyes, Starbucks taking shape in White Center

June 20th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Restaurants, White Center news 10 Comments »

Passing 16th SW/SW 100th on Monday, we spotted the signs, one year after we brought you first word that Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Starbucks would be opening new stores where White Center Chevron used to be.

While the Starbucks building signage wasn’t up yet, the sign answers a question we hadn’t been able to get the company to answer – yes, it’ll be a drive-thru, as will Popeyes. We did reach Starbucks today for comment on the opening timeframe; they tell us they expect the store to open in August. (As you might recall, the location will also feature a job-training program.) We are still trying to get opening info from Popeyes, via either their local franchisees or national HQ; no luck yet.

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OPENING NIGHT: Drunky’s Two-Shoe BBQ debuts location #2 in White Center

April 28th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Food, Restaurants, White Center news 3 Comments »

Seven months after we first told you Drunky’s Two-Shoe BBQ was opening a second location in White Center, it’s opening night. We stopped in for photos around 7:30 pm.

The wait was already an hour, we were told. If you haven’t been to downtown WC in a while, this is the old DK Café site on the northwest corner of 16th and 98th.

Lots of unique decor, as they’d told us back in September:

See a photo of the menu here. Grand-opening festivities are promised all weekend; while they didn’t open the doors until 4 pm today, regular hours will be 11 am-11 pm, we’re told.

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TODAY/TONIGHT: Noble Barton is your White Center stop for Dining Out For Life

April 27th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Health, How to Help, Restaurants, White Center news Comments Off on TODAY/TONIGHT: Noble Barton is your White Center stop for Dining Out For Life

Lifelong‘s annual Dining Out For Life fundraiser is today/tonight, and there’s one White Center restaurant on the list: Noble Barton (9635 16th SW).

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White Center food and drink: Zanzibar now open

April 6th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Beverages, Fun, Restaurants, White Center news Comments Off on White Center food and drink: Zanzibar now open

You’ve probably seen the sign, if you haven’t been in already. Now we have confirmation that Zanzibar has opened at 9609 1/2 16th SW. From Sarah Friesema:

New bar with food has opened in White Center – Zanzibar features local craft beer on tap, wine, full liquor license, and food including panini sandwiches and some street food favorites. Live music, no TVs, and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Open 3 pm to 11 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

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White Center businesses closed for Day Without Immigrants

February 16th, 2017 Tracy Posted in Businesses, People, Restaurants, White Center news Comments Off on White Center businesses closed for Day Without Immigrants

(Also posted to partner site West Seattle Blog)

Thanks to Jen Calleja for the tip – multiple White Center businesses are closed today for the Day Without Immigrants protest against the federal crackdown on immigrants. We stopped by some of the businesses she mentioned – above, the sign at Greenbridge Café; below, the signs at Salvadorean Bakery and Best Roasted Corn:

And Jen sent this collage of other businesses she found closed nearby:

We haven’t seen/heard of any other West closures – if you have, please let us know – texting 206-293-6302 is the fastest way to reach us.

Meantime, there’s news about the court fight over the presidential order on immigration – according to a news release from state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, saying a federal appeals court was notified that “the President intends in the near future to rescind the Order and replace it with a new, substantially revised Executive Order” to eliminate constitutional concerns. Ferguson’s reaction: “Let’s be clear: Today’s court filing by the federal government recognizes the obvious — the President’s current Executive Order violates the Constitution.”

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FOLLOWUP: Work under way at White Center Chevron site; coffee stand moved to new location

October 3rd, 2016 Tracy Posted in Beverages, Businesses, Food, Restaurants, White Center news 5 Comments »

Work is starting on the 15th SW/SW 100th site that was White Center Chevron and will become home to coffee and chicken chain outlets (Starbucks and Popeye’s), as first reported here in June. We noticed this morning that the pumps had been cordoned off and a truck full of fencing had arrived; went back this afternoon, and the site was fenced off. We also noticed the coffee stand that has long been on the southwest corner of the lot was gone; thanks to a WCN commenter, we found it one block west, just west of the White Center Chase Bank branch:

The commenter says the stand will reopen there “in a few days.” As for what’s happening on the ex-Chevron site, we’ll just have to keep watching – it’s not clear from the permit files exactly what will happen first – the existing buildings will all be demolished, and the underground tanks will be removed. Starbucks just finally publicly confirmed its plans last week but still refused to say whether this location will be a drive-thru or not. And we have yet to hear back from Popeye’s.

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